“Yeah, that would be good.” Her voice dripped with skepticism. The woman really had no clue how beautiful she was. “You’re just trying to charm me now. Are you sure you don’t have another bet on the line?”
“Only one I tried to make with you. I like spending time with you because you’re real. You say what you feel, what you mean, and you don’t hold anything back.”
“And that’s a positive trait?”
“To me it is.” He was tired of games and manipulations. He wanted something real, but the sad truth was, he wasn’t going to have that with her. His mother’s directive burned in his pocket. Tomorrow morning, guilty or not, he would have to shut down her foundation, or find a good reason not to. A reason he couldn’t see at the moment. No, tonight was probably all they had. And she was tired and pulling away from him.
If he was going to do something he’d better do it soon.
Just this one time.
He took her hand in his and looked deeply in her eyes, projecting into her mind how much he wanted her. How good they were together. How much she wanted him, too. Not enough to force her to do anything, just enough to relax her guard so she understood he really desired her.
The limo pulled up in front of Morning Joes and parked. Before the chauffeur came around the car and opened the door, Jaclyn put her hand on his arm. “Would you like to come to my house for coffee instead?”
He hesitated. “Are you sure?”
She nodded. “We can curl up on the couch, start a fire, and I can change into something more comfortable.
He leaned in close to her, close enough to smell her exotic perfume. “But you look really sexy in that dress.”
She smiled. “Thank you for that, but the truth is, I can’t wait to get out of it.”
“And I can’t wait to see you out of it.”
Jaclyn led Derek up the walk to her home without a single hesitation. Suddenly, she wanted to share more of her life with him. To get to know him better and for him to get to know her. As if she finally believed he could be more interested in just a one or two-night stand. That perhaps he really did like her for who she was on the inside. As a person. She still wasn’t entirely sure she could trust him, but for once she was willing to take the risk. To not run and to see what it could bring her. She opened the front door and Rufus came charging out, almost knocking them both over.
“Rufus!” She laughed. He gave her kisses and then ran straight for Derek. She had to admit, she liked the way he treated her dog. Greeting him with both hands, not afraid to get dog hair or dirt from Rufus’s paws on his clothes. A true sign of a genuine heart, in her book.
“Come on in,” she said to both of them as she walked into the house. She hit the switch to turn on the gas fireplace then walked into the kitchen. “What can I get you? Decaf or wine?”
“Wine.”
“Red or white?”
“Red,” he said, and she pulled down a bottle off a shelf and opened it.
“Family?” he asked, perusing the picture of her and her mother on the mantle.
“Yep.”
“Beautiful picture.”
She smiled. “Thanks. My mom passed when I was a teen.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be. I have Rufus.”
“And your foundation.” His lips drew down as he said the words.
“Exactly.” She handed him a glass. How was it that he knew her so well after such a short time? He just seemed to “get” her.
“Your dad?” he asked.
“Left us when I was young. Never saw him again.”
“Ouch.”
“Yeah, well, it was his loss.”
“That it was.”
They sat on the couch, sipping the wine. Making small talk about nothing and everything, and suddenly she was telling him about her mother. “She remarried but apparently he wasn’t good enough for her. She fell head-over-heels for my horse trainer, ran off with him, and left me and my step-father behind.”
Jaclyn could tell by the stricken look on his face that she’d said too much. “Sorry for over sharing.”
“No, it’s all right.” He took her hand in his. “Is that why you’re afraid of good looking men?”
“I’m not afraid. I just know better.”
“Well, I’m going to prove you wrong.”
“Are you?”
He squeezed her hand, making her feel all gooey inside. “Absolutely.”
She grinned. “It’s okay. It doesn’t matter with you.”
“Why not?”
“You’re really not that hot. I’m sure you are to some girls, just not to me.”
He laughed. “You are always so generous with the compliments.”
“It’s a gift. I think that’s why you like me.”
“Do you?” His gaze held hers. “Like me?”
“Yep.”
His eyes, hooded with desire, looked at her like she was the only woman in the world. That was his gift. She knew that, and yet she couldn’t turn away.
“No bets this time?” she asked.
“Only that if you’ll let me, I’ll bet I can make sure you have a night you won’t soon forget.”
Heat rose up her chest and adrenaline shot through her at the salacious thoughts dancing through her mind. “That sure of yourself, huh?
“Absolutely.”
And then his lips were on hers, covering, enticing, making her forget everything but the feel of him. His chest pressed into hers, his grip strong, holding her like he’d never let her go. She only hoped it was true. Hoped that this would last longer than just tonight. But there were no guarantees that she had a future with this man. All she could do was enjoy the here and now, and this time that was okay. She could protect herself, keep him at a distance, and not let him close enough to break her heart or destroy her life.
His fingers moved down her neck, making every inch of her tingle with anticipation. He smelled so damn good she just wanted to breathe him in. To forget everything but him and the way he was making her feel right at this moment. His hands moved to the straps on her gown, and he pushed them off her shoulders. His fingers moving over her breasts, holding, cupping, teasing.
He stood, pulling her to her feet, and unzipped the zipper at her back. Her gown puddled to the floor, and then she was up in his arms and he was walking through her house.
“Which way to the bedroom?”
“Straight down the hall, last room on the right.”
The way he held her, so effortless, cradled against his chest, she felt safe. She felt warm.
Oh, she wanted this man. Like she’d never wanted another.
Before she could think on it further, he was laying her on the bed. His lips kissing her breasts, his tongue flicking her hardened nipple, sucking from it until the exquisite pleasure had her back lifting up off the bed.
Please, she thought. Please don’t stop. He kissed her again, his tongue sparring with hers, filling her with such exquisite warmth she didn’t ever want to stop kissing this man. His hands moved down her belly, and she had to stop them. She had to take a breath. She had to think.
“Wait.”
“What is it?” His voice was raspy with desire, and thick with impatience.
“We have to use a condom this time.”
Without saying a word, he leaned over the bed, where he’d dropped his pants, and rifled through them. A minute later he was handing it to her. “You want to do the honors?”
Tentatively she took the foil package. She didn’t want him to know how inexperienced she was. It had been a long time since she’d actually done the honors. She opened the packet, but as she looked down his gorgeous body, as she took him in her hand and felt him move beneath her touch, she realized she wasn’t ready to cover him up yet.
Instead, she bent over him and took his tip into her mouth. Surprised by her own brazenness, she licked and sucked just the tip of him and smiled as a groan escaped his lips. Feeling bolder, she continued to take him in dee
per, until her lips were surrounding him, her mouth moving over him—up and down, in and out. Savoring his taste, she pulled all the way out then sucked gently at the tip, licking him, then took him back in as far as she could. She loved the taste of him, the feel of him, but even more than that, she loved his pleasure-filled, throaty sounds filling the room.
He was an amazing man. Beautiful. Strong. Virile. And she controlled him. It was a heady feeling. She moved faster and faster, stroking him with her tongue, easily able to feel what he enjoyed by the way he moved his fingers through her hair, gently guiding her. The beast tamed by the soft stroke of her tongue until the next thing she knew, she was on her back and he was pushing inside her. She gasped, then moaned with pleasure. Yes. Now. He filled her, thrusting faster and faster, heating her blood, and making her burn with exquisite fire. “Yes, Derek. Yes. Please!”
He pulled out and kissed her once more, slowing his pace and increasing her torment, the same way she’d tormented him. “You are an evil man,” she whispered, and grabbed him by the buttocks, wrapping her legs up around his waist and pulling him in deeper until she could feel all of him moving within her. He pushed against that sweet spot, creating an incredible friction until she was lost in the sensations surging inside her. With a final thrust he climaxed, taking her right along with him. Her body and mind exploded. Bright lights danced before her eyes and music filled her head as wave after wave swept through her. It was several minutes later when she finally came back to earth.
“You are amazing,” he whispered, and lay next to her, drawing her close.
She was still trying to catch her breath, waiting for her heartbeat to steady when tears leaked out the corners of her eyes.
“You’re crying?”
“I’m sorry. I’m emotional.” She swiped at her eyes, refusing to admit she might be happy. Sated. Relaxed. Fulfilled. And yes, maybe she’d just had the most incredible orgasm of her life. And maybe she was feeling just a little wonderful.
And then he was kissing her again.
Chapter Sixteen
The next morning, Jaclyn woke to the sound of her shower running. She sat up in the bed and actually considered joining Derek under the hot water, sweeping sudsy hands across his body. The thought had a smile filling her face. She’d never done anything so bold. She’d never felt comfortable enough. But somehow with Derek she did.
She got out of the bed and inched toward the bathroom, going over in her mind what she would say, what she would do, when she stepped on his jacket. She bent down and picked it up to lay it on the bed. An envelope fell out of his inside pocket. An envelope that wasn’t sealed. An envelope that had the name Safe Haven written across the front of it.
Her brows knitting in confusion, she grabbed it. Why would he have an envelope in his pocket pertaining to her foundation? She shouldn’t pry, but just couldn’t stop herself—she had to know. She opened the envelope, taking a quick glance at the bathroom door as she pulled out the paper. The shower turned off. Quickly, she scanned the top line, her eyes widening as dread dropped to the bottom of her stomach with a sick thud.
Derek walked out of the bathroom, his gaze immediately riveting on the letter in her hand.
“Embezzling?” she gasped.
He didn’t say anything. Just stood as still as a statue, his face expressionless.
“So has this—” She gestured wide with her arms, taking in the rumpled bed sheets, the clothes on the floor. The unused condom. He had given it to her, and she’d been the one to get carried away. To forget. How could she have been so stupid? She had no brain, no will when it came to him.
“Jaclyn—”
She looked down at the paper shaking in her trembling hand. “Has this all been so you could find out more about my foundation? Did you purposely seduce me?”
“No.” He moved toward her. She stepped back, her calves bumping against the bed. “This has been about you. About us.”
“Then what is this?” She waved the paper as angry tears pricked her eyes.
“This” —he gestured toward the envelope— “is about your business partner, Trish. She’s been skimming from the top.”
She shook her head. “No. Trish wouldn’t do that. Not to me, not to the foundation. We built Safe Haven up ourselves. We put everything we had into it. Everything.”
“You have. But has she?”
“Of course.”
“This paper says otherwise.”
“I don’t understand.”
“The reason your foundation has been having so many financial problems is because someone has been embezzling the money out of the organization.”
Her head shook back and forth as denial surged through her. “You’re wrong. The only people who have access to the bank accounts are Trish and I.”
“Yes. And we both know you haven’t been the one. You said yourself, Trish handles the books. You handle the kids.” He nodded, waiting a beat as understanding dawned through her.
She let the paper fall to the floor, and collapsed onto the bed. “Yes, you know that because I told you. Me.” She pressed a hand to her chest. “I never—” She’d let him in. She’d opened the door, and now she was about to lose everything. Something broke inside her, broke into many sharp, jagged pieces as she thought of Jessie’s little smile yesterday morning when she’d read her favorite story. Could she lose the foundation? What would happen to all her kids? Children she knew she shouldn’t have let herself get too close to. Too attached. But she couldn’t help herself. They were more than her responsibility. They had become her family.
Tears filled her eyes. Embezzling? Could Trish have betrayed her? Could she have risked everything? And for what?
…
Derek felt terrible. He could see the anguish filling her face, and knew there would be more problems to come for her. It hadn’t started out that way, but he really did like her, and could see where his investigation could destroy her along with her foundation. He didn’t want that to happen. He lightly touched her arm. “I’m really sorry about this. I’m going to help you. I promise. We’ll get to the bottom of what’s happening. Perhaps we can fix it before it goes public.”
She froze, and for a second had that deer-in-the-headlights look of panic. “Public?”
“We have to shut down the foundation. Do a complete audit and investigation.”
She stilled at his words, and suddenly pulled away from him. Fury emanated from her in a haze of red. “When you came to the foundation and met all my kids? You knew about this. Is that why you came? Why you hand delivered the check from Zacharius? Was the check even real or was this a set-up?”
He sucked in a deep breath, trying to decide exactly how honest he should be. “We needed to see what was done with the money.”
“I paid bills with it. That’s what I did.” She grabbed her shorts and a tee, pulling them on as she charged though the house.
Soundlessly he followed her, trying to determine the best way to calm her down, to make her see reason, to understand.
“The receipt for the deposit into the foundation’s bank account is on the front desk at the foundation.”
“Jaclyn,” he called chasing after her.
“Take care of my dog,” she yelled as she slipped into her sneakers, and then took off down the steps.
Take care of her dog? “Where are you going?”
“As far away from you as I can get. I need to think. I need to be alone.”
She started running.
“Son of a bitch.” Okay, so maybe this was going to be harder than he thought. He went back into the bedroom, picked up the envelope and paper off the floor, dressed, then walked into her kitchen and made a pot of coffee. They’d need it. It was going to be a long day. Like it or not, they had to find out the extent of the damage Trish had done. And then figure out a way to fix it.
Rufus came up to him and pushed on his hand. Derek pet him. “What are we going to do, boy? I bet you know all her soft spots.” Rufus whined at
him. With a flick of his hand, he filled the dog bowl with food. Not standard old dry kibble, but steak, lean and mean. Rufus lapped it up.
Before he’d finished his first cup of coffee, the front door banged open as Jaclyn came rushing back in, looking flushed and sweaty and out of breath. “You can go now,” she announced.
“Don’t you think we should talk about this?”
“Nope.” She took a glass down from a cabinet and filled it with water.
“We have a lot to talk about.”
“Don’t think we do.” She turned to leave the room.
“If we don’t get a handle on what’s happening and do damage control, the auditors will. And trust me, that won’t be good for either of you.”
She stopped, her back to him. After a moment, she turned. “What auditors?”
“The ones that have been notified by my company.”
“What company?”
“It’s a watchdog organization my mother and I run that goes after embezzlers. Actually, pretty much all white-collar crimes and a few other unmentionables.”
“For the government?”
“Freelance.”
“And you work there.”
“I do.”
“How could you seduce me, pretend to care for me, just to see if I was involved in a crime?” she demanded, a look of absolute disgust on her face. It stung. More than he cared to admit.
“That’s not what I did. I started seeing you before….” He stopped, seeing that would get him nowhere. “The point is, someone in your organization is stealing thousands of dollars that hard working people have donated to your cause. I call that damned criminal, and the perpetuator needs to be stopped and punished. And make no mistake, Jaclyn, if we find out it is you, then you will pay. No matter how much I like you, or what kind of relationship we have.”
Her face went white. “I would never… I have never.”
“Then who? If no one else has access except you and Trish, and it’s not you, then she has to be the one. She has taken money from those families who need it the most, and why? So she could buy her fancy designer shoes?”
All Bets Are On Page 10
